COLUMN: All politics is local
Republicans living in parts of Middle Georgia are going to have to make a decision for the primary. Do they request the Republican ballot or the Democrat ballot? In some places, like here in Bibb County, all the action on the Democratic ballot.
Using Bibb County as an example, there is only one contested race for Republicans and it really is no contest. Two people qualified to run against Austin Scott for Congress. Neither has a shot at winning. It is not really a contest. The much anticipated Doug Collins and Kelly Loeffler race is not on the ballot. That will not be decided until November.
The mayoral race in Bibb County is nonpartisan so it does not matter whether a person votes in the Republican or Democratic primaries, everyone will get to vote there. I will vote for my friend Larry Schlesinger. If Larry were not on the ballot, I would vote for Blake Sullivan. If I lived in his district, I would vote for my friend Seth Clark, running for Bibb County Commission.
In the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals races, I will vote for the incumbents. None of them deserve to be removed. They have all been competent jurists. Their names will appear on all the ballots because they are nonpartisan.
In many Middle Georgia counties, a lot of races will be decided in the Democratic primaries. Sheriffs, District Attorneys, and other races tend to be won there with coalitions of black and white voters. In Bibb County, for example, Sheriff David Davis is running unopposed and, given the partisan split in Bibb County, by winning the Democratic primary he will more likely than not win the general election.
The big fight will be in the District Attorney’s race in Bibb County. No Republican qualified for that seat. That means the race between David Cooke and Anita Reynolds Howard will settle who the District Attorney will be. I do not know Anita Howard, but I do know David Cooke. The first time David Cooke ran for office, I actively opposed him. He ran against a friend, law school classmate, and good District Attorney. I campaigned against Cooke.
This year, I am going to vote for David Cooke. I will vote in the Democratic Primary for him. It is the only real race that matters on either the Democrat or Republican ballot. Cooke has earned my vote and I hope he gets yours too. I do not know anything about Ms. Howard. But I know Cooke has done nothing to deserve ouster from office.
Cooke has not only taken a very strong stand against crime in Bibb County at a time crime rates seem to be increasing, he has also poured himself into the community to help fight precursors to crime like broken homes, poverty, and illiteracy. He has not just focused on the bad actors, but has tried reaching those good people with broken souls who need help. We actually do not agree on everything. Cooke and I have been on opposite sides on a number of issues. For example, he has vehemently opposed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act that I support. He is committed to progressive causes I oppose.
I can disagree with Cooke on those issues and also recognize his competence, fairness, and steady hand as District Attorney. He has earned my vote in that position and I will get a Democrat ballot so at least I can cast a vote in one race that matters.
Erick Erickson is host of the Erick Erickson Show on News-Talk 940 WMAC